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mike rees
DENVER–QUICK-HIT IDEAS AND NOTES new England Patriots And NFL:
1. Vrabel vs Payton: 10 teams making head coaching changes in the offseason, with Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and denver broncos (3 p.m. ET, CBS) highlights two teams that have excelled in their recent hires. Mike Vrabel vs. Sean Payton is a typical coaching matchup.
Both have earned an Associated Press Coach of the Year award – Payton with the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans in 2021. They have four Super Bowl championships between them – Payton with the Saints in 2009, Vrabel’s three coming as a player with the Patriots in the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons.
This is the third time their teams will face each other, with the Payton Saints defeating Vrabel’s Titans 38–28 in Week 16 of the 2019 season. Then, in Week 10 of the 2021 season, the Titans defeated the Saints 23–21.
Payton’s first memory of Vrabel in the NFL was when Vrabel was playing in New England. Payton was an assistant coach with the Giants, and he came to New England for joint workouts in 2001. Once Vrabel became the Titans head coach in 2018, they became more involved as teammates in league meetings.
“He’s passionate and his team, you can see him playing with that passion,” Payton said. “When the Lions were asking me about Dan Campbell, I made this comment and it’s a compliment to both coaches. I said, ‘You’re getting an aggressive version of Vrabel – a guy who was a very tough player, and his teams will reflect that.'”
Meanwhile, in Payton, Vrabel sees a creative playcaller.
“I think he does a great job with his personnel, his scheme. The guys he had in New Orleans and how they utilize those guys, and then how he’s using the weapons offensively in Denver. I think you have to prepare for a lot,” Vrabel said prepping Sunday’s matchup.
“I think they have their core concepts that they’ve had over the years, and then they’ve continued to add to it as the game has changed and some ideas and plans have evolved. So I think it’s pretty unique.”
Patriots defenders highlighted the volume and variety of Payton’s offense, and how it challenged them in preparation this week. According to linebacker robert spillaneThey expect to see “a lot of personnel packages, speed and funky formations.”
“He’s got plays for certain guys and he wants to find ways to get them the ball,” Vrabel said of Payton. “His record clearly speaks for itself. So…tough challenge. He’s a proven winner in this league.”
As for Vrabel, he joins Don Shula (Super Bowl III with Baltimore), Tom Flores (XV, XVIII with the Raiders), Mike Ditka (XX with the Bears), Sam Wyche (XXIII with the Bengals), Gary Kubiak (50 with the Broncos) and Doug Pederson (LII with the Eagles) as the seventh to lead the team he played for to a Super Bowl berth. Can become the head coach.
“There’s something special about him going back home, to a place where he’s certainly very proud of what he’s done,” Payton said.
Let the chess match begin.
2. Mai’s lesson: After playing his first two playoff games at home, quarterback drake may He said he didn’t necessarily learn anything new about the postseason, but he did feel something new.
He said Friday, “They always talk about the importance of home playoff games. I didn’t really understand it until I was in one – what the crowd can do and what it would feel like to go on the road.” “Looking forward to experiencing that.”
Since Payton became Broncos coach in 2024, only three road teams have won in Denver (Jaguars, Steelers, Chargers).
3. Jennings’ Reward: When Vrabel revealed on Friday that the six-year veteran outside linebacker afernee jennings He was selected as the game captain for the AFC Championship, citing his professionalism as a reward for never wavering.
How Jennings might fit into Vrabel’s offensive scheme was initially uncertain, as his hard-hitting style as a 3-4 outside linebacker was a scheme match for the old Bill Belichick/Jerrod Mayo defense. But Jennings always insisted that he was a “football player” and his play and approach won over Vrabel and the coaching staff.
Updating the Patriots Game Captain File: https://t.co/hK5lPrXw12 pic.twitter.com/6MYbCOvQY2
– Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) 24 January 2026
4. Vrabel’s Happiness: Vrabel has stressed the importance of players having fun in what they do, and one thing that has been evident from his first day as Patriots coach is his joy in being a head coach again.
After being fired by the Titans in 2023 and then spending 2024 as a consultant with the Browns, Vrabel’s appreciation for the role has grown. “I enjoy coaching these guys. You probably take it for granted,” he said Friday. [the first time]And then getting another chance; I have told them this. And so, doing it with people who are fun to be with – nobody takes themselves too seriously. They give it to me, I give it back to them. And we try to get ready to play the game.”
5. Digs in Denver: veteran receiver stefon diggsJoe, one of eight Patriots who have previously played in a conference championship game, was emotional as he walked off the field after the team’s divisional round win. The trip to Denver brings him full circle, the site of his first career NFL game in 2015 as a rookie with the Vikings, when he had six catches for 87 yards. What things does he remember from that day?
“It’s a noisy place,” Diggs said. “I have a clear image of what that looks like — and that was the regular season.”
6. Gonzo-Certain: This one flew under the radar a bit, but the Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez Broncos look at cornerback Pat Surtain II As the standard at the position in the NFL. They’ll share the same field on Sunday, and perhaps swap jerseys after the game.
Gonzalez (6-1, 205) said he models his game by studying Surtain (6-2, 202), who goes back to college. The respect is mutual, with Surtain praising Gonzalez’s patience and technique earlier this season – something Gonzalez said meant a lot to him.
7. Captain Vinatieri: In selecting the kicker adam vinatieri (1996–2005) As their honorary captain for the AFC Championship Game, the Patriots offered the prestigious honor with the possibility of induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in what should be a memorable year for him.
Honorary captains usually take part in the opening toss and help present the Lamar Hunt Trophy to the winning team. Vince Wilfork, Drew Bledsoe and Teddy Bruschi were the Patriots’ most recent honorary captains (2016–18).
8. Senior Bowl: At one point early in Thursday’s practice, Vrabel was seen having a one-on-one conversation with executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. It provides a snapshot of how they’ve come together to form a vital 1-2 combination — and also that it’s that time of year again when Wolf is balancing the present and the future, as next practice he’ll be heading into the Senior Bowl on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
One aspect that makes the AFC Championship Game unique is that both teams – the Patriots with Wolf, and the Broncos with George Payton – kept their top personnel executive when hiring their most recent head coaches.
9. Did You Know, Part I: The Patriots have won four road conference championship games since the NFL–AFL merger, tied with the Cowboys for the most in the NFL. A win in Denver on Sunday would break the tie.
10. Did You Know, Part II: In 17 of their 19 games this season, the Patriots have led at halftime (14–7 loss in Week 3 against the Steelers, 10–10 tie with the Ravens in Week 16). It dates back to 1984 san francisco 49ers The most in a single season in the Super Bowl era.
